Two Ukrainian servicemen died in combat yesterday, but no troops were injured
Militants were massively shelling Ukrainian positions in the 40th km of Krymske-Novozvanivka in the Luhansk sector. “They used Grad multiple rocket launcher system to launch 20 missiles at Ukrainian positions. After 2 p.m. militants started shooting from mortars and did not stop until late night. The number of launched mortar shells exceeded 160,” said the spokesman of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on ATO related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Moreover, militants used cannon artillery – Gvozdika self-propelled mounts.
Hostilities did not take place in the east of the Luhansk region – Russian border-Triokhizbenka frontline area yesterday. In total, 23 shooting attacks took place in the Luhansk sector in the last 24 hours, and heavy armor was used in 17 cases.
Two Ukrainian servicemen died in combat yesterday, but no troops were injured. “It happened in hostile mortar attack in Novotoshkivske and Shyrokyne,” said the spokesman.
The situation in the Avdiivka industrial area was the most difficult in the Donetsk sector yesterday. Militants conducted three intense attacks, each 60-120 minutes long. “Occupants are massively using heavy armor – 82-mm and 120-mm mortars. They launched over 80 mortar shells at our positions,” said the spokesman. Russian proxies damaged six private houses, but there were no civilian casualties. Moreover, militants used mortars in Zaitseve and Verkhniotoretske. They instigated provocations involving use of light weapons in Novhorodske, Kamianetsk and Butovka coal mine position. “The armistice held in the Donetsk airport and at the Svitlodarsk bulge yesterday,” added Col. Motuzyanyk. In total, militants conducted eight shooting attacks in the Donetsk sector yesterday, and four of them involved use of heavy armor.
Militants brought up mortar launchers, cannons and tanks to the frontline in the Mariupol sector and started massively using them. “Main hostilities continue in Krasnohorivka-Mariinka and Pavlopil-Shyrokyne frontline sections,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. Moreover, militants’ snipers continue working in Novotroitske and Lebedynske. In total, 32 militants’ attacks took place in the Mariupol sector yesterday, and 16 involved use of heavy armor. Over 170 mortar shells, about 40 artillery bombs and around 20 tank shells were launched at Ukrainian positions.
Russia-backed militant groups deprived inhabitants of temporarily occupied territories of the humanitarian aid given by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Ukrainian border guards officially registered 25 trucks with humanitarian load consisting of 540 tons of construction materials and medicine at Novotroitske checkpoint. Nevertheless, militants turned the column back without providing any explanations,” said Col. Motuzyanyk.
Report on the military developments as of January 26 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
